Source: WRAL
A judge’s ruling against Google in a nationwide antitrust lawsuit recently marked not only the most significant victory in decades for consumer protection but also highlighted the positive impact the government can have, said North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein.
While the decision dealt a blow to Google’s multi-billion-dollar advertising empire, Stein emphasized that it represents a major triumph for individual privacy and marketplace competition. Increased competition, he suggested, could lead to lower advertising costs, potentially resulting in savings for businesses that might benefit consumers.
“Our personal privacy has been severely compromised because Google’s dominance allows it to collect vast amounts of information about us, which it then sells to advertisers, driving up costs across the economy,” Stein remarked, calling the decision “the biggest antitrust victory in a generation.”
The ruling determined that Google holds a monopoly in internet search, controlling around 90% of search traffic. A central claim in the lawsuit, which the ruling addressed, was that Google maintains its monopoly by paying billions of dollars annually to companies—such as cell phone manufacturers and internet browsers—to make Google the default search engine. In 2021 alone, Google spent $26 billion on such agreements.
Google gathers data from millions of users each day, storing their search history and activity for 18 months, which it then sells to advertisers at a premium.
The long-awaited decision by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta comes nearly a year after the trial began, pitting the U.S. Justice Department against Google in the most significant antitrust case in 25 years. Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, stated that the company plans to appeal the ruling. “This decision acknowledges that Google offers the best search engine but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed to make it easily accessible,” Walker said.
North Carolina was one of the states leading the charge in this complex litigation, with its legal team playing a crucial role in the trial’s success. Stein commended his team for their efforts and said the victory should restore public confidence in government.
“People often feel that government doesn’t work,” Stein said. “The hard work of government takes time, but with persistence and a clear focus on the ultimate goal, government can indeed make a difference in people’s lives.”
The U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust division has recently taken on some of the world’s largest companies. It sued Apple in March and filed a sweeping lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, in May. Investigations have also been launched into the roles Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI have played in the AI boom.
The Biden administration has secured significant victories, including blocking mergers involving major publishers, as well as JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines. However, it has also faced setbacks in the sugar and healthcare sectors.
Under Stein’s tenure as attorney general, North Carolina has taken on major corporations in the tech, opioid, and vaping industries. He also led a separate lawsuit against Google over anticompetitive practices in its Android app store, resulting in a $700 million settlement last year.
Stein, a Democrat, is running for governor this year against Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The race to succeed him as attorney general features two U.S. Congressmen from the Charlotte area: Republican Rep. Dan Bishop and Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson.
